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Celestia strode along the streets. She held her head up, looking at the sky, half-concerned, half-angered. Flat out through the busy boulevards of Canterlot she strode, oblivious to her wings and her magic, and the ponies who stood in her way hopped aside as she dashed past them. They looked confused, or rather frightened, and their gaze went from the sky to her white shape and back, as if silently asking her for a clue that would explain the situation. But she had no definite idea on the matter.
Sure, something was wrong with her sister. Because at ten AM, the Moon should’ve been lowered long ago, and the Sun should be shining instead. But no. The sky was dark, and the Moon hang stock-still overhead, stuck at about the three quarters of its heavenly path. No sign it would move on any time soon.
That didn’t bode well. Could her sister have…
Engrossed in her pondering, she reached the magnificent marmoreal stairs of Canterlot castle’s major entrance. She rushed up as guards bobbed low, stormed into the hall under the inquisitive eyes of the few ponies that stood here – more guards and a handful of visitors. In heavy silence she made her way across them. Their uneasy gazes followed her, until she vanished atop the lofty stairs that led to her sister’s private apartments.
A few turns and corridors, she reached her sister’s bedroom door. She stopped, sighed and pressed an ear against the door.
No audible sound.
She banged at the door. "Luna!” she yelled. “I know you’re here. Open that door, would you? Don’t make me beg.”
There was no response.
“Luna!” Celestia boomed again, and she hammered the door so hard the hinges almost went loose. “Come on! We need to talk!”
“Clear off!” Luna’s muffled voiced grated from inside. “Leave me alone.”
“Luna, if you don’t open that door in, say, ten seconds tops, I’m going to smash it and get in anyway!”
The lock clicked and the door cracked ajar. Celestia pushed it further open and stepped into the room. It was gloomy. The windows were wide open, and the sudden draft that hit Celestia bore the crispness of the prolonged night. On the far side, Luna sat at her desk, writing on a parchment to the guttering light of a burnt-out candle. She didn’t raise her head, not even ever-so-slightly.
“What are you doing?” Celestia asked, standing midway into the room.
"None of your business,” Luna snapped, her gaze still locked on the parchment. “You see? I’m here. I’m working. Happy now? Then bugger off!”
Celestia twitched. “Luna! It’s ten AM and you still haven’t lowered the Moon. Shall I remind you about your royal duty? All the city, and probably the land, is seething with unrest!”
“What?!” Luna flicked an eye at a nearby clock. “Oops!” She blushed. “Sorry, my bad…” She simpered, and her horn flashed. Out the window frames, Celestia took a glance of the diving Moon. “Done. You can raise the Sun now. Please, could you leave? I really need to finish this on the double.”
Celestia’s horn glowed in turn and lo!, shadows dissolved in the radiance of the morning Sun which flooded the room. The candle on Luna’s desk flickered a last time and went out.
“What kind of task is so captivating it makes you forget the hour and let the Moon tarry in the sky?” Celestia asked and risked a hoof ahead.
Luna sighed, raised her head and looked at her sister with weary, heavy-lidded eyes. “Can’t you see? I’m writing.”
“What do you write?”
Luna sighed again. “You never give up, right? I’m writing a story. I must finish before noon, and I barely squiggled down a few words. So please leave me alone that I may push ahead. Is that asking too much of you?”
“You’re writing a story? What for—”
“It’s for a contest called the Writeoff,” Luna cut short. “If you want to know more, go ride the organiser, Roger Dodger. Now, for the last time, please GO AWAY!”
“But—”
A blue magical aura wrapped itself around Celestia, who was unceremoniously shoved away across the room into the corridor. The entrance door slammed shut. The Sun princess found herself sprawling, tousled, on the tiled floor. She raised herself to all fours, shook her head, regained her composure, then trotted off, a smile on her face.
Sure, something was wrong with her sister. Because at ten AM, the Moon should’ve been lowered long ago, and the Sun should be shining instead. But no. The sky was dark, and the Moon hang stock-still overhead, stuck at about the three quarters of its heavenly path. No sign it would move on any time soon.
That didn’t bode well. Could her sister have…
Engrossed in her pondering, she reached the magnificent marmoreal stairs of Canterlot castle’s major entrance. She rushed up as guards bobbed low, stormed into the hall under the inquisitive eyes of the few ponies that stood here – more guards and a handful of visitors. In heavy silence she made her way across them. Their uneasy gazes followed her, until she vanished atop the lofty stairs that led to her sister’s private apartments.
A few turns and corridors, she reached her sister’s bedroom door. She stopped, sighed and pressed an ear against the door.
No audible sound.
She banged at the door. "Luna!” she yelled. “I know you’re here. Open that door, would you? Don’t make me beg.”
There was no response.
“Luna!” Celestia boomed again, and she hammered the door so hard the hinges almost went loose. “Come on! We need to talk!”
“Clear off!” Luna’s muffled voiced grated from inside. “Leave me alone.”
“Luna, if you don’t open that door in, say, ten seconds tops, I’m going to smash it and get in anyway!”
The lock clicked and the door cracked ajar. Celestia pushed it further open and stepped into the room. It was gloomy. The windows were wide open, and the sudden draft that hit Celestia bore the crispness of the prolonged night. On the far side, Luna sat at her desk, writing on a parchment to the guttering light of a burnt-out candle. She didn’t raise her head, not even ever-so-slightly.
“What are you doing?” Celestia asked, standing midway into the room.
"None of your business,” Luna snapped, her gaze still locked on the parchment. “You see? I’m here. I’m working. Happy now? Then bugger off!”
Celestia twitched. “Luna! It’s ten AM and you still haven’t lowered the Moon. Shall I remind you about your royal duty? All the city, and probably the land, is seething with unrest!”
“What?!” Luna flicked an eye at a nearby clock. “Oops!” She blushed. “Sorry, my bad…” She simpered, and her horn flashed. Out the window frames, Celestia took a glance of the diving Moon. “Done. You can raise the Sun now. Please, could you leave? I really need to finish this on the double.”
Celestia’s horn glowed in turn and lo!, shadows dissolved in the radiance of the morning Sun which flooded the room. The candle on Luna’s desk flickered a last time and went out.
“What kind of task is so captivating it makes you forget the hour and let the Moon tarry in the sky?” Celestia asked and risked a hoof ahead.
Luna sighed, raised her head and looked at her sister with weary, heavy-lidded eyes. “Can’t you see? I’m writing.”
“What do you write?”
Luna sighed again. “You never give up, right? I’m writing a story. I must finish before noon, and I barely squiggled down a few words. So please leave me alone that I may push ahead. Is that asking too much of you?”
“You’re writing a story? What for—”
“It’s for a contest called the Writeoff,” Luna cut short. “If you want to know more, go ride the organiser, Roger Dodger. Now, for the last time, please GO AWAY!”
“But—”
A blue magical aura wrapped itself around Celestia, who was unceremoniously shoved away across the room into the corridor. The entrance door slammed shut. The Sun princess found herself sprawling, tousled, on the tiled floor. She raised herself to all fours, shook her head, regained her composure, then trotted off, a smile on her face.
(To be read in the voice of David Draiman from Disturbed:)
All right, my pony sisters and brothers! Are you ready to join me for 24 hours of fighting for those sweet, sweet Horse Points?! Writeoff people, let me hear you scream!
All right, my pony sisters and brothers! Are you ready to join me for 24 hours of fighting for those sweet, sweet Horse Points?! Writeoff people, let me hear you scream!
Considering that I have a museum to visit and a plane to catch late in the evening, I hypoteticaly might not be able to enter this round.
Who am I kidding, of course I'll be there. As usual, don't expect much.
Who am I kidding, of course I'll be there. As usual, don't expect much.
>>Monokeras
I may actually try this. I set up windows dictation on my computer the other day, and its... passable. :/ Not much compared to touch typing, but better than hunt and peck. 700 words, it might just cut it.
I may actually try this. I set up windows dictation on my computer the other day, and its... passable. :/ Not much compared to touch typing, but better than hunt and peck. 700 words, it might just cut it.
Through The Looking Glass, Best of Both Worlds. Shall We Indulge in Rishathra? From the Top, Pants, Nothing Left To Lose... ‘Ot! Hold Your Horses! Twice the Fun, Double the Cake–Have Your Cake and Eat It Too!
Old Good Friends, Perfect Chemistry, Serendipity, The Right Stuff. Now I Am Become Harmony, Uniter of Worlds. You Can’t Touch This, Sad Sunbutt, My Hero.
A Confederacy of Dunces Leading the Charge, Together The Battles Are Won. On Your Marks… Disqualified! That Pony Is Dead. Pinkie Pie isn’t Allowed Firearms Anymore. I’ve Made a Huge Mistake. Unintended Consequences. Shattered, Bone-Hurting Juice. Car(t) Wash!
It’s a Figure of Speech. Never an Honest Word. White Lies, Latest Version of the Truth, Letting the Cat out of the Bag. That Prompt You Really Wanted to Win Last Time, The Shape of Things to Come. Heartbreak, Replacement Parts. May You Find Your Worth in the Waking World.
Pushing the Limit… The End?
TBD.
Old Good Friends, Perfect Chemistry, Serendipity, The Right Stuff. Now I Am Become Harmony, Uniter of Worlds. You Can’t Touch This, Sad Sunbutt, My Hero.
A Confederacy of Dunces Leading the Charge, Together The Battles Are Won. On Your Marks… Disqualified! That Pony Is Dead. Pinkie Pie isn’t Allowed Firearms Anymore. I’ve Made a Huge Mistake. Unintended Consequences. Shattered, Bone-Hurting Juice. Car(t) Wash!
It’s a Figure of Speech. Never an Honest Word. White Lies, Latest Version of the Truth, Letting the Cat out of the Bag. That Prompt You Really Wanted to Win Last Time, The Shape of Things to Come. Heartbreak, Replacement Parts. May You Find Your Worth in the Waking World.
Pushing the Limit… The End?
TBD.
>>Not_A_Hat
Just call your story "Twilight Sparkle Tries to Use a Keyboard" and you'll be good.
Just call your story "Twilight Sparkle Tries to Use a Keyboard" and you'll be good.
*checks out options*
*nods*
We are born of the prompts, made men by the prompts, undone by the prompts; Fear the Ot prompts.
*nods*
We are born of the prompts, made men by the prompts, undone by the prompts; Fear the Ot prompts.
Ot
Guys it's been two years. There are human beings old enough to talk that are younger than this meme. When will you monsters let it die? D:
>>Fenton
I hope you have a big and solid net. Compared to butterflies, planes tend to be both heavier AND faster, meaning if your mesh is too light, they’ll rip it and escape.
>>Not_A_Hat
That’s because your accent is weird, even to the machines.
(I’m joshing. I usually understand you perfectly well, which is a tour de force given my limited abilities.)
a plane to catch
I hope you have a big and solid net. Compared to butterflies, planes tend to be both heavier AND faster, meaning if your mesh is too light, they’ll rip it and escape.
>>Not_A_Hat
That’s because your accent is weird, even to the machines.
(I’m joshing. I usually understand you perfectly well, which is a tour de force given my limited abilities.)
>>Bachiavellian This is a meme?!
I thought it was just, like... a phoneme, or something... like we'd get a bunch of linguistic entries.
Sorta like Putri Jaran, with less imperialism and more phonetics.
I thought it was just, like... a phoneme, or something... like we'd get a bunch of linguistic entries.
Sorta like Putri Jaran, with less imperialism and more phonetics.
We were talking about prompts in discord a bit, and I decided to post some longer, more complex ones. More limits can be good for creativity; if the designated prompt isn't doing anything for you, add another prompt. Hell, add two. Arbitrary restrictions are still good. Just trying to reconcile them can be intriguing.
These are mostly chapter titles from a story called "The New York Magician" on Everything2.com. Check it out if you like urban fantasy.
Weak and desperate from decades of commuting the djinn would barter all for coffee and a friendly ear
Old Country migratory observation with familial duty
Lost and Found in Gunfight Metaphor
I want to reach my hand into the dark and feel what reaches back
A thousand winding stairs lead down before us
Making islands to have new seashores
Gas pressure disequilibrium among the urban rejecta
So there is death in my voice; what of it?
every statue in town came to life, but they'd been watching long enough to know better than to ever move
There was a man who lived a life of fire
Death may be the only goal you ever achieve
if one of us should flicker and vanish, mid-drag, don't bat an eye. claim a spot on the curb and never give an inch.
Deal with the flames on their terms or yours
The bullets sang softly in their strait prison of steel and brass
the power failure is a sudden sea. the wail of the tornado siren thrashes in the slack of the sail.
To all that fortune, death, and danger dare, even for an eggshell
Fugitive within a prison of flesh and bone
Know the mute by finding their storyteller
These are mostly chapter titles from a story called "The New York Magician" on Everything2.com. Check it out if you like urban fantasy.
>>CoffeeMinion
I already regret my part in proposing TBD, if only because it brought the return of Ot.
also no I don't buck you all
I already regret my part in proposing TBD, if only because it brought the return of Ot.
also no I don't buck you all
Hmm... TBD...
That could be interpreted in whatever acronym the author feels like using right?
To Be Determined
To Be Derpy
To Buy Diamonds
Terrible Big Dragon
The Bidding Demon
Treats By DiamondDogs
Tumbling Bumbling Dr.Whooves
Tired Boring Demigods
Hmm... Could be fun :)
That could be interpreted in whatever acronym the author feels like using right?
To Be Determined
To Be Derpy
To Buy Diamonds
Terrible Big Dragon
The Bidding Demon
Treats By DiamondDogs
Tumbling Bumbling Dr.Whooves
Tired Boring Demigods
Hmm... Could be fun :)
What I find most hilarious is that the winning prompt tied with "Unintended Consequences".
(And that I voted for both. And none of the 13-vote getters. I regret nothing. :trollestia:)
(And that I voted for both. And none of the 13-vote getters. I regret nothing. :trollestia:)
>>Chinchillax
Well, we can all try to explore all the variations of what it means for a character, or destiny, to be determined…
Or we can just do what we want and have fun. I’m taking the latter course. :)
Well, we can all try to explore all the variations of what it means for a character, or destiny, to be determined…
Or we can just do what we want and have fun. I’m taking the latter course. :)
>>horizon
I'm not sure whether the tiebreaker was alphabetical or time-dependent. I trust Roger to be nearly as anal-retentive about details as I am, so it's probably the latter.
This is why it is so important to submit your retarded prompt as early as possible, ponies.
I'm not sure whether the tiebreaker was alphabetical or time-dependent. I trust Roger to be nearly as anal-retentive about details as I am, so it's probably the latter.
This is why it is so important to submit your retarded prompt as early as possible, ponies.
* le writes initial draft *
* le word count = 1332 *
* FFFFFFfffffff.... *
On a more serious note, I'm debating trying for two here. I've limited myself to one submission since early last year when a couple of lackluster stories resulted in me losing Horse Points for my trouble in writing them. I dunno though, this prompt is working for me.
Well, I'll be damned. I actually came up with something. Now let's see if I can turn it into a decent story.
I wish the best for everyone, have fun!
I wish the best for everyone, have fun!
>>Trick_Question
In this case, it might also be that titling the contest was more involved for one entry than the other.
In this case, it might also be that titling the contest was more involved for one entry than the other.
I actually just submitted something for this round! It may wind up in the 'it sounded better when I was writing it' category, but...we'll see what happens. Good luck to everyone else!
It's in. Written and edited in one hour and half, because of plane catching. I sometimes impress myself. However, I don't expect you to be impressed. Not at all.
>>Monokeras
It really is time that I come back to France. Your situation is getting worse. Don't worry, I'll be there.
>>Monokeras
It really is time that I come back to France. Your situation is getting worse. Don't worry, I'll be there.
>>Caliaponia
I'm not sure what OHHH n/m I get it now. Whew. My poor parser. :derpytongue2:
I'm not sure what OHHH n/m I get it now. Whew. My poor parser. :derpytongue2:
So I popped in before bed to see what the prompt was, saw "TBD," figured I was early, and then wandered off. Come back this afternoon, half my time gone, to see that was the prompt. Not sure who entered it, but I'm tentatively blaming Majin. I have a funeral out of town to go to, so we'll see how this all shakes out for me.
>>Hivemind
Welcome to the party!
>>Hivemind
Welcome to the party!
>>Trick_Question
According to Roger, if there's a tie between multiple prompts all receiving the most votes, the winning prompt is chosen at random from between them.
According to Roger, if there's a tie between multiple prompts all receiving the most votes, the winning prompt is chosen at random from between them.
Welp, >>Caliaponia and I just met in Sacramento to hang out with a fellow hoerswords author for the day, and are settling in at a coffee shop for some dedicated Writeoff writing time. I guess I'm getting an entry in this round after all!
>>Posh >>horizon
... Oh, heck with it.
https://discord.gg/4RY8Pg
(#coffeehorse on the drunkwriting server)
I've got about 2 1/2 hours before heading out to a healthcare rally at the capitol. I'll be writing till then but I can answer questions. We'll see if I can talk Caliaponia into it too. <.<
Edited to add: Live-coffee-housing stream is happening and is bizarrely entertaining. There have been such thrilling developments as: questions being asked and answered; me hiding something in Caliaponia's backpack when he went to the bathroom; and now me taking a livestream vote on what drink to get next!
ETA^2: what am i doing with my life
ETA^3: >>Posh if you miss this event after prodding us to do it in the first place I am going to be so salty you could serve me to cows
ETA^4: A dude started playing live music half an hour ago and apparently Cal and I accidentally stumbled across some cool acoustic guitarist's album release concert (it's two days old, and since he's been on a train from Colorado for the past day this is the first time he's played since it went live), in this middle of nowhere coffeeshop with half a dozen people listening. Somehow this became an actual thing worth liveblogging? Posh, what is this magic?!
... Oh, heck with it.
https://discord.gg/4RY8Pg
(#coffeehorse on the drunkwriting server)
I've got about 2 1/2 hours before heading out to a healthcare rally at the capitol. I'll be writing till then but I can answer questions. We'll see if I can talk Caliaponia into it too. <.<
Edited to add: Live-coffee-housing stream is happening and is bizarrely entertaining. There have been such thrilling developments as: questions being asked and answered; me hiding something in Caliaponia's backpack when he went to the bathroom; and now me taking a livestream vote on what drink to get next!
ETA^2: what am i doing with my life
ETA^3: >>Posh if you miss this event after prodding us to do it in the first place I am going to be so salty you could serve me to cows
ETA^4: A dude started playing live music half an hour ago and apparently Cal and I accidentally stumbled across some cool acoustic guitarist's album release concert (it's two days old, and since he's been on a train from Colorado for the past day this is the first time he's played since it went live), in this middle of nowhere coffeeshop with half a dozen people listening. Somehow this became an actual thing worth liveblogging? Posh, what is this magic?!
Well, between the fact that my mother gave me a surprise visit, I was working on my panels for BronyCon all day, and I'm still not fully packed to move out of my dormitory, I doubt that I'll be able to make something for this deadline. :P
I'll be sure to check out everybody else's entries though.
I'll be sure to check out everybody else's entries though.
Dear story, please stop fighting me. You'll be happier at 750 words instead of 1300. Trust me. D:
Guess who finally decided to stop being an incessantly procrastinating loser who leaves half-finished everything he tries?
Not me. I just threw together a few hundred words that may or may not tell a coherent story.
Not me. I just threw together a few hundred words that may or may not tell a coherent story.
>>CoffeeMinion
Story has beenbeaten into submission lovingly massaged down into the prescribed space. You know that feeling when you submit a thing that's destined for last place? Yeah... best not to try for a second and utterly stink things up.
>>007Ben
A challenger for last place? FIGHT ME :-P
Story has been
>>007Ben
A challenger for last place? FIGHT ME :-P
You guys are a bunch of overachievers with your multiple entries per round, and I'm here like "yuss, I coughed up a minific with six hours before the deadline."
Quite a good day as well. The fic is finally done and in, and I had a nice visit with horizon, during which I was definitely not replaced by a changeling infiltrator.
I had several good ideas, worked on them, then was chained to the floor by depression and lost pretty much the entire day.
I woke up this morning, waited until less than an hour before submission deadline, and wrote something different. Very different. I submitted it, with a few seconds to spare even.
I have no idea what is going on inside my head, but I'm going back to sleep.
I woke up this morning, waited until less than an hour before submission deadline, and wrote something different. Very different. I submitted it, with a few seconds to spare even.
I have no idea what is going on inside my head, but I'm going back to sleep.
>>Rao
It wasI me.
I didn't actually think about it tripping anypony up like that. I was only thinking about how amusing it would look the following contest when there are two TBD in a row.
It was
I didn't actually think about it tripping anypony up like that. I was only thinking about how amusing it would look the following contest when there are two TBD in a row.
>>Trick_Question
Troll prompts have a long and storied tradition in the writeoff. Title Drop got its name after people complained about too many title/prompt drops in the previous round.
We're all monsters.
Troll prompts have a long and storied tradition in the writeoff. Title Drop got its name after people complained about too many title/prompt drops in the previous round.
We're all monsters.
Hayseeds. I completely forgot about this until just now because yesterday was so busy. Blugh
Stars above, ponies. It's been like a whole three hours and I only have zero and/or one review on my story. Pick up the slack already. :ajbemused:
>>TitaniumDragon
Ah, but I'm the biggest monster because mine actually won. :facehoof:
Ah, but I'm the biggest monster because mine actually won. :facehoof:
Whatever, deadline missed, so have a dumb thing I scribbled in 5 minutes that is mad meta, because at least this way I wrote something:
Writer’s block is the worst, Twilight Sparkle thought to herself as she stared at the empty parchment before her. Creative writing wasn’t something she indulged in particularly often, but after reading 101 Ways to Enhance Your Knowledge and learning that creative writing was proven to do all sorts of fun neurological things - or at least, perhaps, it was strongly hinted that it would - well, Twilight had taken to it with gusto!
Which meant, more accurately, that she had completely failed to come up with anything relevant. Just hours of staring at a blank paper, made all the worse when Ponyville had been invaded by a swarm of miniaturized giant space Breezies.
Now, giant space Breezies never really made their way to Equestria, at least not the civilized parts. There were too many ponies around. They preferred wide open spaces like the desert, but the miniaturized giant space Breezies had found all of Ponyville to be adequately wide and open for them, and even though they were only the size of gnats, that made it all the worse because to them a pony’s mouth equaled ‘Cave’ and - well, it turned out this tribe really liked cave exploration. Every single kind of cave they could find, it turned out. Mouths had remained safe because breathing outwards tended to blow them away, but -
“Nope! Nope, nope, nope! Not thinking about that any more!” The solution had been to remove the size-changing hex, at which point they returned to their normal Breezie size, and though there were a good number of awkwardly yelping mares - and a couple stallions - soon the tribe had reformed, realized Ponyville did not suit their tastes at all, and absconded to parts unknown.
It was at that that Twilight finally had her stroke of genius! Creative writing, yes! OF course! She would write about the miniature giant space Breezies, but rather than invade Ponyville she would have them invade Canterlot! They could overtake the castle and cause all sorts of mayhem! Why, just imaginging those stuffed pompous nobles in Parliament and her mentor reacting to all of it and…
Twilight began to break down in giggles at the thought of Celestia and Luna in the aftermath. Oh dear. In fact…
Her quill hit parchment, and she started to scribble like lightning. Words poured from her quill and soon enough front and back of parchment were filled with something rather absurd - not quite perfect, but it was the effort that counted.
Twilight smiled in satisfaction, rolled it up to send it in and looked at the clock.
“Bucking DEADLINE!” she screamed, and in a burst of magic the paper was incinerated.
In her haste though, she’d used the wrong kind of flame.
In the end, she didn’t win the contest, but she won something else: A series of increasingly awkward letters to and from Princess Celestia explaining her ‘fanfiction’.
Writer’s block is the worst, Twilight Sparkle thought to herself as she stared at the empty parchment before her. Creative writing wasn’t something she indulged in particularly often, but after reading 101 Ways to Enhance Your Knowledge and learning that creative writing was proven to do all sorts of fun neurological things - or at least, perhaps, it was strongly hinted that it would - well, Twilight had taken to it with gusto!
Which meant, more accurately, that she had completely failed to come up with anything relevant. Just hours of staring at a blank paper, made all the worse when Ponyville had been invaded by a swarm of miniaturized giant space Breezies.
Now, giant space Breezies never really made their way to Equestria, at least not the civilized parts. There were too many ponies around. They preferred wide open spaces like the desert, but the miniaturized giant space Breezies had found all of Ponyville to be adequately wide and open for them, and even though they were only the size of gnats, that made it all the worse because to them a pony’s mouth equaled ‘Cave’ and - well, it turned out this tribe really liked cave exploration. Every single kind of cave they could find, it turned out. Mouths had remained safe because breathing outwards tended to blow them away, but -
“Nope! Nope, nope, nope! Not thinking about that any more!” The solution had been to remove the size-changing hex, at which point they returned to their normal Breezie size, and though there were a good number of awkwardly yelping mares - and a couple stallions - soon the tribe had reformed, realized Ponyville did not suit their tastes at all, and absconded to parts unknown.
It was at that that Twilight finally had her stroke of genius! Creative writing, yes! OF course! She would write about the miniature giant space Breezies, but rather than invade Ponyville she would have them invade Canterlot! They could overtake the castle and cause all sorts of mayhem! Why, just imaginging those stuffed pompous nobles in Parliament and her mentor reacting to all of it and…
Twilight began to break down in giggles at the thought of Celestia and Luna in the aftermath. Oh dear. In fact…
Her quill hit parchment, and she started to scribble like lightning. Words poured from her quill and soon enough front and back of parchment were filled with something rather absurd - not quite perfect, but it was the effort that counted.
Twilight smiled in satisfaction, rolled it up to send it in and looked at the clock.
“Bucking DEADLINE!” she screamed, and in a burst of magic the paper was incinerated.
In her haste though, she’d used the wrong kind of flame.
In the end, she didn’t win the contest, but she won something else: A series of increasingly awkward letters to and from Princess Celestia explaining her ‘fanfiction’.
>>Trick_Question
It's okay. I had a rough week, so I'm not sure I would have been able to hammer anything out anyway. Spent 3 hours (round trip) in a car with an infant and a toddler going to a memorial service for a grandparent. I was pretty bushed.
It's okay. I had a rough week, so I'm not sure I would have been able to hammer anything out anyway. Spent 3 hours (round trip) in a car with an infant and a toddler going to a memorial service for a grandparent. I was pretty bushed.
>>horizon
So, just as a follow-up to my enthusiastic pronouncements of entering this round … I, uh, kind of didn't. :( I got home Saturday night and sat down to finish my story and fell asleep at the keyboard. Now that I'm old my body is failing me D:
But! The silver lining of blowing past the deadline is that I got to spend Sunday expanding and polishing my TBD story for a straight-to-FIMFiction release. So I'd like to name-drop Three Letters, currently blazing through the featurebox, and wish everyone good luck with their entries!
(I'm not asking for reviews — especially since my story went well past minific size. I just wanted to offer some closure to the "Horizon's name isn't in the author guess list?" thing.)
So, just as a follow-up to my enthusiastic pronouncements of entering this round … I, uh, kind of didn't. :( I got home Saturday night and sat down to finish my story and fell asleep at the keyboard. Now that I'm old my body is failing me D:
But! The silver lining of blowing past the deadline is that I got to spend Sunday expanding and polishing my TBD story for a straight-to-FIMFiction release. So I'd like to name-drop Three Letters, currently blazing through the featurebox, and wish everyone good luck with their entries!
(I'm not asking for reviews — especially since my story went well past minific size. I just wanted to offer some closure to the "Horizon's name isn't in the author guess list?" thing.)
Announcing!
Radio Writeoff: "TBD"
Will Record
Barring Me Breaking Another Arm
On this coming Saturday
August
5th
At
?10?pm Qull's Time
And
3pm Central
Screw timezones.
Srsly.
Join Us For
Rambling!
Banter!
And
A ROGUEISH SPECIAL GUEST!
We may even discuss YOUR story!
Please vote on what stories we should discuss!
Use the Discord link at the top of the page to find us.
BAM BIATCH 57 REVIEWS
I feel like Heinz. By which I mean, I feel married to some guy who was a celebrated veteran until politicians dragged his name through the mud with false accusations claiming he didn't deserve the Purple Hearts he earned in Vietnam.
Anyway, now all I have to do is vote them all (ugh).
I don't think I can guess this round because I had two or three authors tease me about 'oh you'll be able to guess mine' or 'I put stuff in there for you', and it will be embarrassing if I don't get things that were designed for me to get except it's kind of obvious the childfucker story was intentionally put there for me because everypony seems to think I'm a childfucker since they don't actually read my stories. :V
Anyway anyway, I hope some of you appreciated my reviews. I know I'm bad at not being harsh and self-centered with them and I didn't get many uphooves this time around but sometimes feedback can be useful! Except this might be the first time ever that I don't agree with or understand any of the feedback on my own story, so I probably will not pass the cut even though I enjoy the story I was able to write in 50 minutes after the depression finally disappeared the morning right before the deadline, very much.
Also I'm sorry for pointing out a potential rules violation and will never do that again. :X
I feel like Heinz. By which I mean, I feel married to some guy who was a celebrated veteran until politicians dragged his name through the mud with false accusations claiming he didn't deserve the Purple Hearts he earned in Vietnam.
Anyway, now all I have to do is vote them all (ugh).
I don't think I can guess this round because I had two or three authors tease me about 'oh you'll be able to guess mine' or 'I put stuff in there for you', and it will be embarrassing if I don't get things that were designed for me to get except it's kind of obvious the childfucker story was intentionally put there for me because everypony seems to think I'm a childfucker since they don't actually read my stories. :V
Anyway anyway, I hope some of you appreciated my reviews. I know I'm bad at not being harsh and self-centered with them and I didn't get many uphooves this time around but sometimes feedback can be useful! Except this might be the first time ever that I don't agree with or understand any of the feedback on my own story, so I probably will not pass the cut even though I enjoy the story I was able to write in 50 minutes after the depression finally disappeared the morning right before the deadline, very much.
Also I'm sorry for pointing out a potential rules violation and will never do that again. :X
There were a lot of good stories this round, and a lot in the middle that were much harder to rate. There isn't a fair way to rate comedy against drama and vice versa, which is why I'd kind of prefer we do drama and non-drama in different events.
My top four, in order:
The Beautiful Deity (brilliant retcon for Twily's EQG clothing, best overall)
Release Note (creative, well-written, and best comedy hooves down)
To Be a Dragon (touches on race, stigma, and expectations, best drama)
Your Fate (very believable and in-character, most immersive story for me)
It was a hard choice. There were plenty of deserving entries besides this limited selection (including some great experimental stuff, and comedies and dramas that would show up if I listed the next few stories, etc.), and I enjoyed everything I read. Great work everypony! :pinkiehappy:
My top four, in order:
The Beautiful Deity (brilliant retcon for Twily's EQG clothing, best overall)
Release Note (creative, well-written, and best comedy hooves down)
To Be a Dragon (touches on race, stigma, and expectations, best drama)
Your Fate (very believable and in-character, most immersive story for me)
It was a hard choice. There were plenty of deserving entries besides this limited selection (including some great experimental stuff, and comedies and dramas that would show up if I listed the next few stories, etc.), and I enjoyed everything I read. Great work everypony! :pinkiehappy:
Time Enough For Mashups? #goodjokes
Preening Seven Hundred Fifty - After a lengthy discussion of various wingcare techniques and the finer points of contrast between pegasus mating rituals and mere social grooming between friends, the story pointedly does not offer a climax. :trollestia:
Poisoned Apple Jacked In - Are you ready for a rollicking big gun fu fight between Agent Silversmith and Flutterbat while AJ stands off to the side saying "Neo" periodically at Rarity for no apparent reason?
The Best Days Can't Hurt Her - Twilight is trapped alone in a pocket dimension and is left feeling frustrated and helpless. Fortunately, it turns out she's into that sort of thing, and she doesn't hesitate to eject Derpy when the dimension proves to be a little less empty than advertised. Meanwhile, CelestAI is left frustrated in her attempt to fulfill Derpy's values and must commit large swaths of clock time and processing power to the problem. Fortunately it turns out that CelestAI is into that sort of thing as well.
Twilight Sparkle and the Black / Spelling Flight Camp - Twilight's lust for honeyed consonants knows no bounds. Promised that she'd find some if she resurrects a cold case/murder mystery, she eventually discovers the perp is a giant bee that's improbably disguised itself as a kid at the local flight camp. Sadly, the entire supporting cast suffers gruesome impalement before those sweet, sweet consonants can be hers.
Preening Seven Hundred Fifty - After a lengthy discussion of various wingcare techniques and the finer points of contrast between pegasus mating rituals and mere social grooming between friends, the story pointedly does not offer a climax. :trollestia:
Poisoned Apple Jacked In - Are you ready for a rollicking big gun fu fight between Agent Silversmith and Flutterbat while AJ stands off to the side saying "Neo" periodically at Rarity for no apparent reason?
The Best Days Can't Hurt Her - Twilight is trapped alone in a pocket dimension and is left feeling frustrated and helpless. Fortunately, it turns out she's into that sort of thing, and she doesn't hesitate to eject Derpy when the dimension proves to be a little less empty than advertised. Meanwhile, CelestAI is left frustrated in her attempt to fulfill Derpy's values and must commit large swaths of clock time and processing power to the problem. Fortunately it turns out that CelestAI is into that sort of thing as well.
Twilight Sparkle and the Black / Spelling Flight Camp - Twilight's lust for honeyed consonants knows no bounds. Promised that she'd find some if she resurrects a cold case/murder mystery, she eventually discovers the perp is a giant bee that's improbably disguised itself as a kid at the local flight camp. Sadly, the entire supporting cast suffers gruesome impalement before those sweet, sweet consonants can be hers.
I plan to close the Radio Writeoff poll when I wake up tomorrow, so we can finalize what stories we'll be discussing.
If anyone wants to vote before then, here's a link: link.
We don't always blindly follow the poll, but stories you upvote there do have a greater chance of being talked about.
If anyone wants to vote before then, here's a link: link.
We don't always blindly follow the poll, but stories you upvote there do have a greater chance of being talked about.
Mashups:
Starlight Glimmer's Brand New Dealer
Starlight finally starts to fit in and and understand the in-jokes. Turns out, helping somepony hide a body is a really great bonding experience.
Giving and Receiving Twilight's Butt
Rarity can't see what the big deal about Twilight's rear is. Literally.
Discord Channels the Wisdom of ithkushllldkow
...and is even more incomprehensible than before, somehow.
Explorers We Get Wi-Fi
It turns out that ponies engineered the development of our species tens of thousands of years ago, all for one final end goal: creating the Internet.
Starlight Glimmer's Brand New Dealer
Starlight finally starts to fit in and and understand the in-jokes. Turns out, helping somepony hide a body is a really great bonding experience.
Giving and Receiving Twilight's Butt
Rarity can't see what the big deal about Twilight's rear is. Literally.
Discord Channels the Wisdom of ithkushllldkow
...and is even more incomprehensible than before, somehow.
Explorers We Get Wi-Fi
It turns out that ponies engineered the development of our species tens of thousands of years ago, all for one final end goal: creating the Internet.
Huzzah, finals slate done. :yay: Overall I feel like there are a lot of "solid" stories, but only one or two that really wowed me. High floor/low ceiling, as it were. I feel like a lot of that came from the endings, where twists or tonal shifts felt all too common. The Discord one in particular was a very near miss.
Regardless, I'm thrilled to be back in the finals, and I look forward to reading everyone else's reviews!
Top 5, subject to change:
1) Black / Flightcamp
2) Today's Special
3) Starlight Glimmer's Brand New Boinger
4) RSVP
5) Little By Little
Regardless, I'm thrilled to be back in the finals, and I look forward to reading everyone else's reviews!
Top 5, subject to change:
1) Black / Flightcamp
2) Today's Special
3) Starlight Glimmer's Brand New Boinger
4) RSVP
5) Little By Little
Hey gang, as we head into the homestretch here I'd like to request a little love for our current least-reviewed story, Determination. It looks like if a few folks chip in, we can get all the stories to at least 8 reviews! :yay:
Mashups 3: Mashups Hard With A Vengeance
Discord Channels the Poisoned Apple: Are you ready for some Fluttercord? If not, then you're in luck: neither is Discord! He's (literally) phoning in his side of it and appears only as a cardboard cutout. His smooth voice still drives Fluttershy over the moon for him, though. #playa
Cheerilee's Swimming Against The Current: It's kind of like a salmon thing, y'know? Hopefully she'll find that special somepony without bludgeoning herself to death in the process...
Reflections on Preening and the Passage of Time: After a thousand years on the moon, Princess Luna declares that she's in desperate need of a serious once-over by a professional. She means by a hairdresser/wingdresser, but unfortunately the exact choice of words that she uses to solicit helping hooves is... um, "desperate need of a serious once-over by a professional." Panicked and embarrassed by what happens next, she ends up accidentally petrifying a hardworking stallion of negotiable affection.
Little by Little Can't Hurt Her: Octavia finds herself trapped in a recurring visit to a bar where the other patrons are all cardboard cutouts, except for a certain somepony who keeps trying to pick her up. And as the scene loops endlessly, Octavia begins to wonder if she truly has a choice, or if taking this "Vinyl" up on her indecent proposal is the only way to break free...
Discord Channels the Poisoned Apple: Are you ready for some Fluttercord? If not, then you're in luck: neither is Discord! He's (literally) phoning in his side of it and appears only as a cardboard cutout. His smooth voice still drives Fluttershy over the moon for him, though. #playa
Cheerilee's Swimming Against The Current: It's kind of like a salmon thing, y'know? Hopefully she'll find that special somepony without bludgeoning herself to death in the process...
Reflections on Preening and the Passage of Time: After a thousand years on the moon, Princess Luna declares that she's in desperate need of a serious once-over by a professional. She means by a hairdresser/wingdresser, but unfortunately the exact choice of words that she uses to solicit helping hooves is... um, "desperate need of a serious once-over by a professional." Panicked and embarrassed by what happens next, she ends up accidentally petrifying a hardworking stallion of negotiable affection.
Little by Little Can't Hurt Her: Octavia finds herself trapped in a recurring visit to a bar where the other patrons are all cardboard cutouts, except for a certain somepony who keeps trying to pick her up. And as the scene loops endlessly, Octavia begins to wonder if she truly has a choice, or if taking this "Vinyl" up on her indecent proposal is the only way to break free...